Robert Eggers« highly anticipated film *The Man from the North*, starring Alexander Skarsgård, and Jean-Jacques Anno about the fire at Notre-Dame de Paris that, in the spring of 2019, shocked not only France but the entire world. And also, a new remake of the classic fairy tale ’Cinderella,» filmed in Norway and Lithuania.
These are the three movies premiering in theaters on Holy Thursday, April 21.
«The Man from the North’
This epic revenge thriller, directed by Robert Eggers, explores just how far a Viking prince will go to avengeof his father, set against the backdrop of Icelandic myths, the primordial figures of an unseen world, the bloodstained swords of battle, and the terrifying legends of the 10th century.
The story, which has Shakespeare’s *Hamlet* in its DNA, tells the tale of a young prince who sees his fate indelibly sealed by a bloody and senseless massacre: his father is brutally murdered by his uncle, who also kidnaps the little boy’s mother. Fleeing the island’s kingdom by boat, the child vows to take revenge. Two decades later, the hero has become a fearless warrior who raids and plunders villages, until an otherworldly seer reminds him of his eternal oath: that he must avenge his father’s unjust death, save his mother, and kill his greedy uncle. Traveling on a ship carrying slaves to Iceland, the hero infiltrates his uncle’s farm with the help of a woman who was with him on the ship—and thus begins his struggle to honor his sacred oath.
The film stars Alexander Skarsgård, who has fully immersed himself in the role of a lone warrior who will go to extraordinary lengths to honor his father’s memory.
Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit) plays an enigmatic woman who travels alongside the hero. She will watch his struggle with tenderness and be captivated by his passion and the determination he displays.
Nicole Kidman, in an extremely complex role, plays a mother who hides her own secrets. Ethan Hawke plays the father who failed to pass on the coveted throne to his son. Willem Dafoe, in a bizarre role, embodies the beliefs and supernatural legends of a shocking world, while the seer Björk delivers the prophecy that will set in motion the redemptive journey toward a bloody catharsis.
Notre Dame de Paris is on fire
«The fire was detected at the start of operations on Easter Monday at 6:17 p.m., but the fire department was not notified until half an hour later. From that point on, a never-ending series of dramatic events unfolded, leading to an inevitable disaster. It was the first day on the job for a new security guard at the cathedral, who was monitoring the fire alarm panel. He had never visited the cathedral before and was unfamiliar with the terminology of Gothic architecture. When the alarm went off and a code appeared that he didn’t understand, he called his boss. His boss wasn’t available and didn’t get back to him until 15 minutes later. That was just the beginning of a series of unfortunate events.».
Jean-Jacques Annaud (Seven Years in Tibet, The Name of the Rose) directs a gripping docudrama about the incredible chain of events that led to the fire that threatened the iconic and unique Notre-Dame de Paris on April 15,2019. The film combines archival footage of the actual events with staged scenes depicting the firefighters’ battle against the raging blaze. A film packed with suspense, apocalyptic imagery, ironic twists of fate, and the greatness of the human spirit, which transcends danger.
As for the firefighters—and especially the six young people who were the first to battle the flames—Jean-Jacques Anno says: «Two young women and two young men who had just come of age… Of the four of them, two had never been to a fire before. These young firefighters were under the command of two young officers who were only slightly older than them! When I met them, I was struck by their modesty and humility. For them, the cathedral’s stones are the most iconic monuments in the world. They told me that after they had poured tons of water on the fire, they were not allowed to get close to the flames. Their suits can withstand temperatures up to 704 degrees Celsius, but the temperature on the day of the fire reached 1,200 degrees Celsius. Listening to them, I realized just how surreal this undertaking was. Unbearable heat, suffocating smoke, 40 kilograms of equipment on their backs, 15 kilograms of hose, helmets and gas masks, incredibly narrow passages in a hostile environment.».
Starring Samuel Lambert, Jean-Paul Bord, and Michael Kirinian.
Three Wishes for Cinderella
Norwegian pop star Astrid S (Astrid Smeplas) transforms into a dynamic Cinderella and stars in an unconventional remake of the classic fairy tale, filmed in Norway and Lithuania. The film by Norwegian director Cecilie A. Mosli takes us on a journey through snow-covered forests, mountains, and medieval castles, alongside the heroine as she tries to escape her wicked stepmother and find love. A healthy dose of magic, an incredible dance at the palace, gorgeous costumes (all in the film are made from natural materials—every costume is wool and cotton; there’s no plastic at all), and plenty of horseback rides.
After her father’s death, the kind, independent, and courageous Cinderella lives with her wicked stepmother and her spoiled stepdaughter, who treat her like a common servant. On one of her walks in the forest, Cinderella stops two men from hunting wild animals, one of whom is the kingdom’s prince. The attraction between them is instantaneous, but the prince is tasked with finding a suitable wife at the upcoming royal ball, which Cinderella is forbidden to attend. The heroine gathers all her courage and, with the power of three magic hazelnuts, decides to take her fate into her own hands. Will she be able to free herself from her stepmother’s tyranny and find true love?;
Starring Astrid Smeplas, Chingiz Al, Ellen Dorit Petersen, Ingrid Gever, and Björn Sandquist.
The Greek dub features the voices of Georgia Ioannidou, Aris Makris, Ifigeneia Staikou, Dinos Souitis, Lila Moutsopoulou, Andreas Evangelatos, Christos Syriotis, Dimitris Pasios, Vangelis Evangelou, Michalis Koilakos, Chrysa Diamantopoulou, and Pari Trika.
